1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation Implemented 1.2 While the government agrees with this recommendation, it notes that participation outcomes will vary from event to event. 1.3 The UK is world-leading in delivering major sporting events. Although the government expect these to have a positive impact on participation in physical activity, they help achieve multiple objectives, also driving economic growth, improving infrastructure, instilling civic and national pride, and spreading the UK’s international influence. 1.4 The UK has staged over 130 major sporting events since 2012, and learned lessons from each one. The UK continue to attract and deliver the biggest and best events, a valuable national legacy of the London 2012 Games. 1.5 A UK Sport report found that sporting events (excluding the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games) staged in the UK in 2022 had a direct economic impact of £132 million, supported 1,600 jobs and had a 6:1 return on investment. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games interim evaluation estimates £870.7 million of economic benefits and 7,400 additional jobs, mainly in Birmingham and West Midlands. Estimates of the impact on participation are due later in 2023. 1.6 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS or the department) and UK Sport support organisers to galvanise participation and the wider impacts. Over the past decade, DCMS have learned that a clear plan and dedicated funding from the outset are critical; significant benefits do not occur without targeted planning and investment. 1.7 The government has also increasingly embedded robust monitoring and evaluation, throughout an event’s lifecycle, including evaluating the impacts of changes to infrastructure and communities that support increased participation. 1.8 This approach is outlined in the Gold Framework – UK Sport and DCMS guidance on bidding and hosting major events – and has been implemented with success for recent events, including with regard to participation outcomes. 1.9 The Women’s UEFA EURO 2022 legacy programme provided over 416,000 new opportunities for women and girls to be involved in football; a full impact report on participation is expected this year. The Rugby League World Cup invested £25.8 million, including £8 million from the UK government which was put towards the social impact programme and included improving facilities. 1.10 Looking ahead, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 legacy programme will aim to attract 1,000 new female coaches, 500 match officials and 100,000 female players by 2027. Progress will be measured and published in a post-event report. 1.11 Major sporting events have a transformational impact. The government is clear that all events must have focused social impact plans – including discrete investment towards improving participation. These examples demonstrate that participation objectives will vary depending on the sport, the size of the event, the scale of the investment and timescales involved. The government will continue to ensure that these are built into each of the events as well as within the robust monitoring and evaluation process that we require to be put in place.